Voter turnout, as it turns out, was predictably low Saturday, but at least in the city, not as low as some had feared/expected.

In fact, taking the glass-half-full view, the percentage of voters going to the polls (or voting early) in the city of Dallas was more than 7 percent, exceeding the countywide turnout of 6.7 percent.

Yes, the bar is low, but, hey, it rained.

Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings received 30,692 votes from 582,707 registered voters in the city. Add in challenger Marcos Ronquillo's 11,383 voters, and turnout for the mayoral race was 7.2 percent.

For the historically inclined, Rawlings' vote total Saturday fell between his numbers the previous two times he faced voters: 28,424 in the May 2011 four-way general election; and 31,088 in his June 2011 runoff against David Kunkle.

In the eight contested Dallas City Council races Saturday, turnout was strongest north of Interstate 30, which is no surprise, with 13.9 percent in District 9 around White Rock Lake and 12.5 percent in District 10, centered on Lake Highlands.

District 6, covering western precincts, had incumbent Monica Alonzo facing three little-known challengers and had the lowest turnout at 4.7 percent.

The newspaper, of course, and most journalists would bemoan such paltry turnout numbers as antithetical to good governance, with such a small segment of residents choosing who sets policy for a city.

As I have in the past, I respectfully disagree and contend turnout is exactly what it should be, a reflection of how many citizens care enough to educate themselves on the issues and bother to get dressed and express an opinion at the ballot box. I fail to see how we benefit by flooding the polls with potential voters who have no idea who these candidates are or their stands on the issues. Better those people stay home and not dilute your vote.

Oh, and as to whether this election shifted the power balance on the Trinity Parkway question, tune in next month. The count now is six council members each way on whether the road should have four or six lanes, meander or not and a speed limit like a highway or a city street.